Miriam stared back at the long row of interviews with Mrs. Bailey and sought her face for her invisible thoughts. "Well to come straight to the point without beating about the bush, it's about him, that little man, you know who I mean." "Who?" "Mendizzable." Miriam's interest awoke and flared. That past patch of happy life had been somehow or other visible to Mrs. Bailey. She felt decorated and smiled into the room. "Well; you know I don't believe in talk going about from one to another. In _my_ opinion people should mind their own business and not listen to tittle-tattle, or if they do, keep it to themselves without passing it on and making mischief." "Has someone been trying to make mischief about poor little Mr. Mendizabal?" "Well, if it was about him I wouldn't mind so much. Little villain. That's my name for him." "Fascinating little villain if he must be called a villain." "Well; that's what I've got to ask you my chahld; are you under a fascination about him? You'll excuse me asking such a question." Solicitude! _what_ for? "Well. I _did_ think him fascinating; he fascinated me, he would anybody. He would fascinate Miss _Scott_ if he chose." "'Er? 'Er be fascinated by anybody? She thinks too much of number one for that." ... Miss Scott. Dressing so carefully, so full of independent talk and laughter and not able to be fascinated ... too far-seeing to be fascinated. "But why do you ask? I'm not responsible for Mr. Mendizabal's being a fascinating little man." "Fascinating little _devil_. You should have heard Dr. Winchester." Something hidden; all the time; behind the politeness of the house. "Dr. _Win_chester?" "Dr. Winchester. Do you remember him coming out into the hall one evening when you were brushing your coat?" "And brushing it for me. Yes." "He didn't know how to let you go." There was a trembling in Mrs. Bailey's voice. "He said," she pursued breathlessly, "he was in two minds to come with you himself." "_Where? Why?_" "Why? He _knew_ that fella was waiting for you round the corner." Suddenly appearing, brushing so carefully ... why not have spoken and come. "Well now we're coming to it. I can't tell you how it all happened, that's between Mr. Gunner and Miss S. They got to know you was going out with Mendizzable and where you went. It's contemptible I know, if you like, but there's many such people about." Miriam checked her astonishment, making a mental note for future contemplation of the spectacle of Mr. Gunner, or Miss Scott, following her to Ruscino's. They had told Mrs. Bailey and talked to the doctors.... Spies; talking idle; maliciously picking over her secret life. "Dr. Winchester said he was worried half out of his senses about you." "Why not have said so?" "You may be wondering," Mrs. Bailey flushed a girlish pink, "why I come up to-day telling you all this. That's just what _I_ say. That's just the worst of it. He never breathed a word to me till he went."